The explosive growth of artificial intelligence technology could generate nearly 1,000 times more electronic waste by the beginning of the next decade, according to a new global analysis.
Researchers project that without implementing waste reduction measures, AI-related electronic waste (e-waste) will experience dramatic growth “from 2,600 tonnes in 2023 to 2.5 million tonnes in 2030,” the scientists said.
To put this in perspective, this volume would be equivalent to each person in the projected 2030 global population of 8.5 billion disposing of approximately two iPhones.
The swift advancement of generative AI technologies necessitates constant hardware and chip technology upgrades, frequently making existing electronic equipment obsolete. These discarded components contain hazardous substances, including toxic metals such as lead and chromium, which pose risks to both human health and the environment. However, they also contain valuable materials like gold, silver and platinum that could be salvaged through recycling.
“Our findings indicate that this e-waste stream could increase, potentially reaching a total accumulation of 1.2 to 5 million tonnes during 2020 to 2030,” stated the research team from the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Reichman University in Israel.
The researchers cautioned that this trend “may be intensified in the context of geopolitical restrictions on semiconductor imports and the rapid server turnover for operational cost savings,” according to their article published in the peer-reviewed journal Nature Computational Science on 28 October.
